Before we announce the winner of the 2016 Miss WERRRK.com Pageant, our team at the site are sitting down with all of the contestants to learn a little more about them and the pageant experience. Next up, Spencer’s interview with Oriana Peron….but first, a word from Spemcer himself!
Hello everyone! I’m here with one of the fierce competitors of the “Miss WERRRK.com 2016” pageant, Oriana Peron! Not only is she an accomplished drag queen, but she is also a talented wig and costume designer. Hailing from Bloomington, Indiana… Oriana Peron has led this competition with creativity and grace. I cannot wait to find out more. Oriana Peron everyone!
Spencer: Hey Oriana! I’m so glad you could find time to join me. How crazy has life been trying to balance the pageant and your regular nightlife activities?
Oriana: Thanks for having me Spencer. My schedule has been pretty crazy especially while making time for the pageant. Outside of performing at bars I travel and work at Anime Conventions around the country. Most of my filming occurred at these conventions rather than in my own home because of how often I was gone.
Spencer: Wow! That is a lot. I am glad you were still able to compete. You must have been so excited to find out the first challenge of the pageant was to recreate a Disney villain?
Oriana: Very excited, I started as a cosplayer prior to becoming a drag queen so any time I get to blend the two worlds makes me incredibly happy. My only disappointment was with my wig. Since this was the first challenge I was not aware of how much time I actually needed to set aside to complete it. Due to my oversight I did not have the time I required to add wefts of hair to my wig and curl it. In some ways I feel like I failed the character but I had to push on to the next challenge.
Spencer: Well from my perspective I feel that your “Mother Gothel” characterization was pretty spot on. Everyone knew who you were the second you came on camera. That leads me to my question, was there anything ‘unexpected’ so to say I’m this competition and what had you been prepared for?
Oriana: I have never participated in a pageant of any kind before so I’d have to say I went into this pretty blind. Nothing really shocked me or caught me off guard other than learning how much time needed to go into creating the videos. I’m mostly a go with the flow kind of person so any twists that came up I just said, “OK, let’s do it”.
Spencer: That’s the attitude that helped you do so well! What would you say was the most difficult challenge for you?
Oriana: I would say moving from the talent portion to gown proved to be the most difficult for me. I had a difficult time deciding what my talent should be. I can’t sing, I don’t dance, I’m sure I could have done musical water goblets but then that’s already been done. I spent so much time agonizing over a talent I overlooked one very important thing. This is an online competition and I have the power of editing! I decided to showcase my ability to create a costume. Due to the fact that I took so long to come to this realization and the amount of time it takes to film and edit I had to roll from one challenge to another. Sewing all night on the first garment and sewing for two days on the gown. I actually filmed the morning that I had to leave to go to Florida for a visit with my Grandmother. That was the most challenging aspect of the competition and yet I’m built to work under pressure. Regardless of the outcome I’m proud of my work on that gown.
Spencer: The moment I realized you chose sewing as your talent, I became a fan. I thought it was such a good choice because it was so different from what everyone else was doing and it really payed off.
Oriana: Thank you.
Spencer: Time for the bonus rapid fire round. Ready?
Oriana: Yes!
Spencer: Favorite character to cosplay?
Oriana: My immediate response is Sailor Moon. Usagi was my first cosplay 11 years ago, I was once known as “Sailor Man” at many Midwest conventions. Now I find myself attracted to villain cosplays.
Spencer: I knew I sensed the dark side. Who do you look up to the most in the drag world?
Oriana: I have to say an Indiana local queen Cassidy Fellows-Sommers. Cassidy is a beacon in our community and even though she is semi-retired she still takes time to impart wisdom to younger queens. Cassidy is always poised and very comfortable with who she is as a person and entertainer.
Spencer: Your dream grilled cheese would have what on it?
Oriana: I love this question! Buttered toasted bread with sharp cheddar and macaroni and cheese.
Spencer: How daring. I am asking the hard hitting questions that America demands answers for. If you were to lip-sync for your life right now, which song would you absolutely destroy with?
Oriana: Bonnie McKee – California Winter, I’ve loved her since her solo career began in 2004. Now she is releasing a new album after writing with Katy Perry for several years.
Spencer: Lastly, where do you see yourself in five years?
Oriana: I see myself with my undergraduate in Theater, either living in San Diego or going for my masters at North Carolina School of the Arts.
Spencer: So tell me Oriana, why should you be the new Miss Werrrk.com?
Oriana: I’m sure other Queens might give you a series of, “yaaasssss” or “I should win because I’m the most beautiful, talented…” Etc… I just can’t do that. I don’t feel that I’m the most beautiful, the most talented, the most cunning. What I do feel is that I am leaning, I am growing. I take in all that is around me and use it in my future endeavors. I am confident in myself, in who I am as a person; I have shortcomings. I am also resilient, quick on my feet, and willing to put in hard work to make what I see in my future happen. I am Oriana Perón and I want to be the next Miss Werrrk.com.
Spencer: Thank you Oriana. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed and I am so proud to see your growth in this pageant. I wish you the best of luck. I am so excited to see what life has in store for you.
Oriana: Thank you it’s been a pleasure!
